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Just one thing strikes me about the AB139. There is hardly one picture of it being deployed as a military helicopter. Every picture I see is carrying VIP's FFS ! Looking at the sliding door, it does look a bit on the small side. Nice big soft seats for VIP's as well.

Looking at the .pdf brochure,there is an image showing the seating arrangement for the law enforcement model,with ten back to back seats along the centreline,the first two,behind the pilots, designated seating for the Gunners on either side.Seating is similar in design to that seen in the Mowags,for those who have enjoyed their comfort.
Looking at each of the 3 brochures below,you can get an Idea of how the UH can look.

It takes seconds to remove a door gun. Minutes to remove its mounting.
The tender mentioned(not that anyone bothers reading it before asking questions) a General Purpose Machine Gun of 7.62mm calibre,on either side.

The seating arrangement can be altered to suit the role. It remains to be seen if Diamond Bertie will look for the VIP fit(which is a kit,which can be removed by ground crew in a couple of hours).This seats 5 VIPs(of nominal weight 90kg) In the past,most VIPs being transported by Helicopter were happy with/tolerated the standard Passenger seating arrangment. The AB139 seats 15 in high density seating or 12 in normal confuguration.

The advantage, If there is one, is that the Current Minister detests flying and has publicly stated he has no intention of travelling in them. With this in mind,it is doubtful he will pay much heed to the comfort of the seating his colleagues will be travelling in.

Another option is that the LUH has sufficient space to do the job of ferrying VIPs,and carry out the training role, without needing to remove seating,allowing the Air Corps to leave the UH in the Utility or Air Ambulance configuration.
Consider also that these aircraft probably will not be delivered till the end of the term of this government. Unless they are in a total world of fantasy,they should know that they will not be in government to enjoy the luxury of travel(They will probably decide to flog the Lear about the same time).They may not care about their successors comfort either.
That said,the VIP seating fit has been specified in the tender,but not as a permanent fixture.

On a slightly connected note, Namibia recently recieved the first of their 2 AB139s.
the timescale for them was:

Date: 18/09/2002
Namibian Government Orders Two AB139 Helicopters

Date: 16/09/2004
Handover Of The First Namibian AB139 Helicopter

This is pretty quick,when you consider that when the order was placed,this aircraft was still in prototype stage. Their model is the eighth model off the production line.

I predict delivery in early to Mid 2006 of the AB139. The EC135 should be here sooner,as there are plenty in production. I think the GASU model left the factory within the year of the order being placed,but spent the remainder of its time sitting in McAlpines factory,being fitted out with its specialised equipment,and waiting for the AC/GS to sort out their internal disputes...

If your going to put any weaponry on a helicopter if should be the GE minigun, the air corps could practise using by vapourising the cows around the country and this would also help prevent the greenhouse effect!!!!

The trick to pet names is a combination of affectionate nouns. Honeybun. Sugarpie. Kittentits.

AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that, after the full evaluation programme, the Irish Department of Defence has selected the AB139 helicopter for their utility helicopter requirement including troop transport duties, air ambulance, inland search and rescue and VIP transport. Four AB139 helicopters will be delivered to the Air Corps. It is expected that negotiations will be completed later this month and a firm order for the delivery of the AB139’s agreed.

In addition to the selection by the Irish Department of Defence, a number of government agencies around the world are showing a keen interest in the AB139 helicopter, whose modern design and certification standards, combined with its exceptional power-to-weight ratio and high-speed capability, make it ideally suited for law enforcement.

Looking back on the Recent History of the Air Corps, I am trying to see where we go from here. The tender stipulated that interim aircraft could be provided,if the delivery time was expected to be particularly long. In the past this has been done with:
CASA CN235. Leased s/n250 in 1991, s/n252 and 253 delivered in 1994
Gulfstream G3. Leased 249 in 1990, delivered G4 251 in 1991
Bae HS125. Leased 236 in 1979, delivered 238 in 1980

In all three cases above,the original leased aircraft was different to the final purchased aircraft. Agusta have a number of production examples flying about,which though may not be equipped in the same manner as that finally delivered to the Air Corps,would still provide a useful training example to crews while they await the delivery of the ordered aircraft.(259????)

All things considered,I still say two years from now,if all goes well,we should see all six aircraft flying with the roundel from Baldonnel.
Another precedent which has been mentioned is the initial small quantity ordered,4. No mention is made in the above quote of the further options for an additional 2 aircraft. However the Allouette 3 fleet,so long the backbone of the Air Corps Helicopter fleet initially consisted of only 3 aircraft, s/n 195,196,197 delivered in 1963, followed in 1972 by 202, and in 1973 with 211,212, 213,culminating in the delivery of 214 in 1974.
It is then possible that after the delivery of these aircraft and the recognition of their usefulness,that the FG majority Government will order a further 6... :tri: